Daily Herald's Week in Photos

  Lee Zimmerman of the Community Emergency Response Team stokes the flames of a fire pit during the Holiday Walk on Main Street in downtown Wauconda celebrating the Christmas season.

  Jon Arie, playing Scrooge, and Stevie Calabrese as the Ghost of Christmas Past wander along the Holiday Walk on Main Street in downtown Wauconda celebrating the Christmas season.

  Romina Vizcarra, 8, struggles to get out of her wrapped gift box costume at Sunday's Merry Cary Holiday Parade in downtown Cary. Her mother Rosa helped her out of the box.

  Keegan Brennen, 2, wears his Christmas hat as he jumps and screams for candy at Sunday's Merry Cary Holiday Parade in downtown Cary. He was with his mom Lisa of Cary.

  Santa waves to the families waiting for him at Schaumburg Regional Airport's hangar Sunday morning after flying in on ABC 7's helicopter.

  Michael Goolish, 1, from Schaumburg plays with his eating utensils during breakfast while waiting for Santa's arrival at Schaumburg Regional Airport Sunday morning.

  Katherine Kuzas, 10, of Chicago hangs ornaments on the Tree of Lights Sunday in a memory of her grandpa "Opa" at Cantigny Park in Winfield.

  Vera Indelli thinks about her answer as she speaks with Santa Claus at the Messenger Public Library's annual Holiday Open House Sunday in North Aurora Sunday. She was with her dad Bill of North Aurora. A balloon artist, a face-painter and other activities rounded out the day.

  Henry Myers, 14, inspects Russian Christmas babushka nesting doll decorations Sunday at the Elgin Public Museum's Touching on Traditions exhibit. The exhibit features more than 50 displays of holiday significance from countries around the globe. Henry was with his dad Art and brother Andy. He was at the museum to gather information for a school project. The holiday exhibit will be shown every day starting Dec. 18 until the end of the month.

  Anita Devalk of Itasca and her children Evan, 6, and Emma, 10, work on marshmallows during the Itasca Block Party Sunday along Maple Street in Itasca.

  Marie Duetschmann of Grace Lutheran Church sings to the song "Footloose" as she packs bags of food at the Feed My Starving Children event Sunday at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Grayslake. Holy Cross Lutheran Church of Libertyville sponsored the event which hoped to pack a million meals over the weekend to distribute globally.

  Dale Blau, the oldest living resident born in Lake Zurich, talks to Roger L. Knigge during the Ela Historical Society Open House Sunday in Lake Zurich.

  Megan Urrea of Naperville fights the cold Monday as she walks down Jefferson Avenue in downtown Naperville during her lunch break.

  Dan Cronin acknowledges the applause after he is sworn in as the new DuPage County Board Chairman in Wheaton on Monday.

  Aaron Ketchmark, 6, of Kouts, Indiana watches as rice is poured into a bag. Aaron was attending a birthday party for his cousin Cameron Tonkery of Hainesville who celebrated his eleventh birthday by having his party at the Feed My Starving Children event at the Lake County Fairgrounds. Party goers spent time packaging meals to be sent to starving children around the world.

  Mundelein's annual village holiday tree lighting ceremony ended with a five-minute fireworks display above the 30-foot spruce tree at Kracklauer Park on Friday, December 3.

  Round Lake Beach police officer Steve Sandacz watches as five-year-old Anthony Branch of Round Lake Beach tries on a winter coat as needy children were met by police officers and escorted through the Wal-Mart store to shop for Christmas presents Monday. This year because of generous donations, the Village of Round Lake Beach had 60 kids participate in the program.

  Kunwar Mehta, 4, smiles and says "it tickles!" as he gets painted by teacher Lori Mehan to put his handprint on some reindeer art at Pottawatomie preschool in St. Charles Monday. The preschool program is having an open house January 15th for interested parents and kids.

  Three-year-old Grace Haase reacts as she sees Santa Claus while her pug Guapo seems less interested as they wait their turn in line Monday evening at the Spring Hill Mall in West Dundee. The mall is welcoming pet owners again to have their photo taken with Santa on Monday the 13th, 6-9 pm. The Haase family is from Crystal Lake.

  A lone Canada goose the only thing of any color as it sits among a sea of snow at Melas Park in Mt. Prospect.

  Hailey Casperson, 9, of Itasca looks at one of the 12 decorated trees on display during the Santa Comes to Town Christmas program at Itasca community Library Tuesday.

  Four-year-old Kathryn Danosky of Batavia listens intently to a reading of "Snowmen at Christmas" during holiday story time at the Batavia Library Wednesday.

  Mike Martin of Batavia, left, and Jack Lapice of Romeoville use an underwater camera to locat the edge of the weed bed for the best ice fishing on Silver Lake in Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville on Wednesday. Ice fishing has begun this week after the area's recent cold temperatures. The ice is currently about 4 inches thick.

  Eric Eiler, with the Stevenson High School National Honor Society, unloads toys that the school collected this past week as volunteers at Catholic Charities Lake County collect, sort, and distribute toys and clothes Wednesday at a storage facility in Waukegan. Catholic Charities hopes to deliver gifts to over 12,000 individuals for the holiday season. Sailors from Great Lakes Naval Base helped unload the gifts.

  Former gang member James Lilly speaks to the students at Carpentersville Middle School Thursday afternoon about turning his life around. Lilly became paralyzed from the waist down after a gang shooting.

  Vernon Hills High School senior Ariana Campos cuddles with service dog Lida as the Interact Club held their fourth-annual holiday doggie bake sale Thursday at the school. All the proceeds go to benefit Canine Companions for Independence who had several service dogs on hand for students to pet.

  Lombard firefighter/paramedic Josh Hays picks up toys from Pleasant Lane Elementary in Lombard. Left to right are student council members Thomas Batka, Josilin Johnson, Alexis Weltin, and Avyn Alairys helping bring out the toys. The toys will be taken in the toy parade on Saturday to Yorktown Center, where they will then be part of the toy drive. "I think it's going to a good cause", said fifth-grader Joslin Johnson, president of the student council. All members of the student council agreed it's better to give the toys to charity, then having them sit around at home unused. The school collected over 100 books and toys for the drive this year.

  Chicago Cubs great and broadcaster Ron Santo's funeral procession pauses in front of Wrigley Field Friday.

  John Ogan, 4, of Warrenville keeps warm by the fire while waiting for Santa to show during Holly Days in Warrenville Friday.

  Two-year-old Cameron Ziegler of Geneva leans his head back while being held up by his mom Jody to look at the lights on the Geneva Christmas tree during the annual holiday festivities.

  Jessica Sanchez, 5, of Addison shows off her ornament to her mother Maria Friday in Addison. "I came to see Santa and to bring my girls," Maria said. Pictures with Santa, ornament making and games were available for children of all ages.

  Six-year-old Sydney Warford of Elburn passes her wish list on to Santa as he visits the Town and Country Library in Elburn Friday, December 3.

  Santa arrives via fire truck to the Des Plaines Christmas Tree Lighting Street Fest at Metropolitan Square.

  Three-year-old Sean Halpin seems a bit intimidated by the large Christmas tree he's helping to decorate for St. Zachary's parish during the Des Plaines Christmas tree lighting street fest at Metropolitan Square.

  Twin sisters Anna, left, and Emily Nauman whisper to Santa what they want for Christmas in the log cabin prior to the Christmas tree lighting in Bartlett Park.